Picture-exhibitor.



No. 872,455. PAT'ENTED DEC. 3, 1907. E. 0. G. ROESLBR. PICTURE EXHIBITOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A All ERNST CARL GUSTAV ROESLER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PICTURE-EXHIBITOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1907'.

Application filed March 30. 1907. Serial No. 865.500.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNST CARL GUSTAV RoEsLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania,

have invented a new and useful Picture- Exhibitor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to picture exhibitors of that general class especially designed for dis laying photographs, stereoscopic views an the like and has for its object to provide means whereby the photographs may be successively displayed without the necessity of manually handling the same or without exposing the ictures in any manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a case or housing having a plurality of superposed compartments for the reception of the photographs or pictures to be exhibited, said case or housing being provided with display openings to permit inspection of the pictures. Afurther object is to provide means for successively transferring the pictures from one compartment to the other, and means for locking the pictures in the up er compartment against accidental disp acement during. the ascent of the pictures from the lower compartment.

A further object is to provide an actuating member having a lifting device pivotally mounted thereon and adapted to successively engage the pictures in the lower compart- .ment and transfer the same to the upper compartment.

Afurther object is to provide means for discharging one of the pictures from the upper compartment into the lower compartment at each operation of the actuating member, and means for yieldably supporting the actuating member in inoperative position.

A still further object of the invention is to generally improve this class of devices so as .to increase their utility, durability and efiiciency.

Further objects and advantages will appearin the following description, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the ap ended claims.

Int e accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification: Figure 1 is a perspective view partly in' section of a picture exhibitorconstructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing the several parts in inoperative position. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the manner of transferring one of the pictures from the lower compartment to the upper compartment. Fig. 5 is a detail transverse sectional view of the lifting member.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The improved exhibitor forming the subject matter of the present invention includes a case or housing 5 preferably rectangular in shape, as shown and provided with a lurality of display openings 6 through w ich the photographs, pictures or other matter within the case may be readily inspected.

The interior of the case 5 -is divided by a transverse partition 7 to form superposed compartments 8 and 9 adapted to recelve or contain a plurality of frames 10 in which are mounted the photographs or pictures to be exhibited.

Spaced laterally from the back of the case are parallel bars or guides 12 defining a rear chamber or compartment 13 and extending longitudinally within the compartment 13 are spaced rods 14 having their opposite ends secured to anchoring plates 15, which latter bear against the top and bottom of the case or housin 5, as shown. Slidably mounted on the.rods 14 is an actuating device 16 preferably in the form of a tubular member or sleeve 17 the upper end of which is provided with a laterally extending finger piece 18 which projects through a slot 18 extending vertically of the case or housing. The sleeve 17 is rigidly secured to 'a plate 19 having spaced perforations formed therein for the reception of the rods 14 and extending laterally from the plate 19 is a horizontally disposed arm 20 carrying a lifting device 21.

The lifting device 21 consists of a flat plate having its inner end coiled around and pivotally connected to the adjacent end of the arm 20 so as to permit free tilting movement of the lifting device on said arm. The lifting device 21 is normally and yieldably supported in elevated or inoperative position by means of a coiled spring 22 one end of which is secured to the adjacent anchoring plate 15 while the opposite end thereof is secured in any suitable manner to the plate 19. It will thus be seen that when the fin er piece 18 is depressed the pivoted lifting. evice 21 will move downwardly within the rear compartment 13 and engage the lower end of the adjacent frame 10 so that when the finger piece is released said frame will be transferred from the lower compartment 9 to the upper compartment 8.-

- Attention is here called to-the fact that the rearward or tilting movement of the lifting device 21 is limited by engagement with the suitable locking devices 23 are provided, said looking devices being slidably mounted on the upper face of the partition 7 at the opposite sides of the case 5, as shown.

The'locking devices23 are preferablyin the form of fiat plates provided with depending perforated lugs 24 for the reception of the pins or rods 25, the latter being seated in suitable recesses 26 formed in the upper face of the transverse partition 7 beneath the locking devices, as shown. The rear ends of the locking members or plates 23 are normally and yieldably supported in engagement with the adjacent guide bars 12 by means of the coiled springs 27 which bear against the lugs 24 and the adjacent walls of the recesses 26, as best illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing. It will thus be seen that the locking devices 23 serve to normally cut off communication between the upper and lower compartments 8 and 9, respectively at the rear of the case and thus prevent the pictures in the upper compartment from dropping into the lower compartment.

Extending transversely across .the opposite ends of the partition 7 and secured in any.

suitable manner to the lower face thereof are reinforcin plates 28 on which are pivotally mounted or lateral movement shoes or flaps 29. The free ends of the flaps or shoes 29 extend vertically beyond the upper surface of the locking members 23 and bear against the adjacent picture frame 10 in the upper compartment so that when one of the pictures from the lower compartment is transferred to the upper compartment said pictures will bear against the shoe 29 and thus move the pictures in the upper compartment the distance of one frame.

When the ascending pictures bear against the shoes 29 they will force the latter 1n engagement with the locking devices or plates 23 and thus move the plates against the tension of the springs27 to cut off the passage 30 at the front of the case or housing so as to lock the pictures in the upper compartment. during the ascent of the pictures from the lower compartment. Secured to the top of the case 5 is a spring 31 the free end of-which is bowed laterally and bears against the adjacent frame 10, there being a similar spring 31', preferably secured to the upper face of the transverse partition 7 to assist in preventing accidental isplacement of the frames in the compartment 8.

Pivotally mounted in suitable recesses 32 in the guide bars 12 are kicking devices 33 the object of which is to lock the frames in the lower compartment 9 against accidental movement during the ascent of'each picture.

One end of each kicking device 33 is bent laterally within the lower compartment 9, as indicated at 34 while the opposite end thereof is extended to the upper surface of the adjacent sliding plate or locking device, as indicated at 35, so that the initial upward movement of the ascending pictures from the lower compartment will bear against the upper end 35 of each kicking device and thus cause the opposite end thereof to bear against the remaining pictures in the lower com artment 9 and lock the same against acci ental displacement during the u Ward movement of the actuating device. t willthus be seen that by arranging the upper ends 35 of the kicking'devices substant1ally flush with the upper surfaces of the locking devices the frames 10 in the-lower compartment are effectually locked against sliding movement until the ascending picture frame has completely entered the up er compartment thereby preventing the plcture frames from becoming wedged in the rear passage with consequent injury to and stoppage ofthe operating mechanism.

The bottom of the lower compartment 9 is formed by an inclined plate 36 having one end thereof inclined or beveled at 37 so as to deflect the frames from the upper compartment downwardly and in position to be successively engaged by the llfting device.

In order to exhibit the photographs, stereoscopic views, or other ictures within the case or housing it is mere y necessary to press the finger piece 18 against the action of the coiled spring 22 which causes the lifting device 21 to engage the lower edge of the adjacent frame in the lower compartment 9.

As soon as the pressure on the finger piece is ment of the ascending picture ca 34 thereof against the ad'acent bank of picture ca 'ng frames an thus prevent the weight 0 said frames from hearing against the ascending frame and impeding the upward movement thereof. A further moverrgling frame will cause the latter to engage t e flap or shoe 29 and force the plate or locking slide 23 to closed position so as to cut off the front passage 30 and at the same time form a passage at the rear of the case or housing for the rece tion of the ascendingupicture.

hen the slide or 100 ng member 23 is moved forwardly to cut off the passage 30 the flap or shoe, 29 will move the bank of picture carrying frames in the upper compartment the distance of one frame. As soon as the ascending picture frame clears the upper end of the shoe or flap 29 the tension 0 the spring 27 will automatically move the locking member or slide 23 to close the passage at the rear of the case and open the passage 30 at the front 'of the case thus permitting an adjacent frame at the passage 30 to drop by gravity into the lower com artment 9 so that the succeeding frame in t e upper compartment may be exhibited at the display opening 6.

When the ascending picture frames enter the up or compartment 8 they will successively ear a alnst the spring 31, which latter forces sai frames downwardly in engagement with the transverse partition.

It will thus beseen that by successively depressing the finger piece 18 of the actuating device the pictures or picture carrying frames in the lower compartment may be consecutively transferred to the upper com-' partment so that the entire bank of photographs in the case or housing may be effectually displayed without the necessity of manually handling the same or exposing the pictures in any manner.

I From the foregoing description it is' thought that the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood by those skilled in the art and further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention what I claim is: v

1. A picture exhibitor including a case having a display opening and provided with superposed picture receiving compartments, there being a passage on one side of the case and forming a source of communication between said compartments, means for transferring the pictures from. one com artment to theother, means for automatical y closing said passage during the ascent of the pictures from one compartment to the other, and a kicking device disposed Within one of the compartments and successively actuated by the ascending pictures for locking the remaining pictures in said compartment against ac- .cidental displacement.

2. A picture exhibitor including a case having a display opening and provided with picture receiving compartments, means for transferring the pictures from one compartment to another, and a kicking device operable by one of the ascending pictures in one compartment for locking the remaining pictures in said compartment against accidental displacement.

3. A plcture exhibitor including a case having a dis lay opening and provided with a plurality o communicating picture receiving compartments, an actuatmg device for transferring the pictures from one compartment to another, means operable by the ascending picture for cutting off communication between the compartments, and a kicking device disposed within one of the compartments and actuated by the ascending pictures for locking the remaining pictures in said compartment against accidental displacement.

4. A picture exhibitor including a case having a display opening and provided with communicating picture-receiving compartments, a ieldably supported actuating member, a ifting device pivotally mounted on the actuating member for successively transferring the pictures from one compartment to the other, and means for locking the pictures in the upper compartment against accidental displacement during the ascent of the pictures in the lower com artment.

5. A picture exhibitor inc uding a case having a display opening and provided with communicating picture receiving com artments, an actuating member mounte for reciprocation in the case, a lifting member pivotally mounted on the actuating member and adapted to engage the pictures for successively transferring said pictures from one comdpartment to the other, and means exten ing in the path of movement of the ascending pictures for locking the ictures in one compartment against acci ental dislacement during the ascent of the pictures in the other compartment.

6. A picture exhibitor including a case having a display opening and provided with picture receiving compartments, means for transferring the pictures from one compartment to the other, means for locking the pictures in one compartment during the ascent of the ictures in the other compartment, and a icking device actuated by the ascending pictures and adapted to bear against the pictures in one of said compartments.

7. A picture exhibitor including a case having a display opening and provided with picture receiving compartments, an actuating device for successively transferring the pictures from the lower compartment to the upper compartment, a kicking device pivota y mounted in the lower compartment and operable by the ascending ictures in said .r'ompartmont, and means or locking the pictures in the upper compartment against accidental dis lacement during the ascent of the pictures ii om the lower compartment.

8. A picture exhibitor including a case having a display opening and provided with a transverse artition forming super osed picture receiving compartments, there s ng a passage on one side of the case and forming a source of communication between said compartments, means for transferring the pictures from one compartment to the other, and locking members slidably mounted on the partition and actuated b the ascending pictures for automaticall c osing said passage during the ascent o the pictures from one compartment to the other.

9. A picture exhibitor including a case having a display opening and provided with a transverse partition forming picture receiving compartments, said transverse partition being spaced from the adjacent walls of the case to form passages communicating with both compartments, means for transferring the pictures from one com artment to the other, a locking device slidab ly mounted on the partition and normally closing one of the passages, said locking device being movable to close the opposite passage by engagement with the ascending pictures.

10. A picture exhibitor includin a case having a display openin and provided with a' transverse partition orming picture receivin compartments, there bein passages formed between the partition an the case, means for transferring the pictures from one compartment to another, a plate slidably mounted on the partition andnormally closing one of the passages, and a pivoted section bearing against the late and movable in engagement with the p ate to close the opposite passage by engagement with the ascending pictures.

11. A picture exhibitor including a case having a display openin and provided with a transverse partition orming picture receiving compartments, there being a passage formed on each side of the partition, means for transferring the pictures from one compartment to the other, plates slidably mounted on the partition and normally closing one of the passages, shoes pivotally mounted on the partition and bearing against the adja-' cent ends of the plates, said shoes being movable into engagement with the plates by the ascending pictures thereby to actuate the 1 plates to cut ofi the opposite passage.

12. A picture exhibitor including a case having a display openin and provided with a transverse partition orming picture re-,

ceiving compartments, guides disposed within the case and spaced from the adjacent wall of the latter to form a rear compartpicture recelvmg compartments,

ment, rods secured within the rear compartment, an arm slidably mounted on the rods, a lifting device carried by the arm and adapted to engage the pictures in one com artment for successively transferringsai pictures to the adjacent com artment, and a finger piece for actuating t e arm;

- 13. A picture exhibitor includin having a display opening and provi 8' case ed with 'des disposed within the casing and space from the adjacent wall thereof to form a rear compartment, aspring pressed actuating member mounted for vertical movement within the rear compartment, a lifting device carried by the actuating member and adapted to engage the ictures in one compartment for successive y transferring said pictures to an adjacent compartment, and 'cking devices pivotally mounted in the guides and adapted to bear against the pictures in one of said compartments. v

14. A picture exhibitor includin a case having a display opening and provi ed with picture recelving compartments, guides disposed within the case and spaced from the adjacent wall thereof to form a rear compartment, spaced rods disposed within the rear compartment an arm slidably mounted on the rods, a plate pivotally mounted on the free end of the arm and ada ted to engage the pictures for successive y transferring said pictures from one compartment to the other, a spring interposed between; the arm" from one compartment to the other, a slidefor normally closing one of the passages, means operative by engagement with the ascendin picture for moving the slide to automatica 1y cut ofi the opposite passage, and a kicking device disposed within one of the compartments and actuated bythe ascending pictures for locking the remainin pictures in said compartment against acci ental displacement.

16. A picture exhibitor including a case a transverse partition, defining communicat ing picture receiving compartments, there being a slot formed in one Wall of the casing, spaced rods disposed within the casing, an arm slidably mounted on the latter and provided with a pivoted plate adapted to engage the pictures in the lower compartment for successively transferring said pictures to the upper compartment, means for locking the pictures in the upper compartment against In testimony that I claim the foregoing as accidental displacement during the ascent of my own, I have hereto afiixed mysignature in the 1 pictures in the lower com artment, a the presence of two witnesses. finger iece extendin through t e slot in the ERNST CARL GUSTAV nonsmm.

6 casmgfor aotuatmf the arm, a .nd means for Witnesses: normal] and yiel ably holding the=a1 m in GEORG KOEHLEB, elevate position. l HARRY GREENE. 

